Anderson to race in USF2000 with Belardi Auto Racing2011 Skip Barber National Series champion Scott Anderson will join Belardi Auto Racing's USF2000 team for the 2012 season.

"I feel like the team I signed with needed to be as motivated as I am to win, and I just think that out of all the teams I spoke with and tested with Belardi is the most motivated of them all," he said. "Had it not been for the scholarship through the MAZDA program, I would probably still be struggling to find funding for next season. I'm very thankful I was able to have the option of joining such a strong team (because of the scholarship money). "

Anderson, a Colorado native, began his career racing karts. He spent five years karting until he moved on to Skip Barber Racing regional series in 2009. During his first year in the Skip Barber series, Anderson drove in the Western Series where he finished third in the championship and claimed the Rookie of the Year.

In 2010, he became the Skip Barber Western Series Champion and the Skip Barber MAZDASPEED Challenge Winter Tour Champion. Between those two series and the Skip Barber Southern Series, Anderson collected 15 poles, 19 wins and 39 podium finishes in just 56 starts.

His good fortune continued through the 2011 season, when he clinched the championship title in the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Championship Presented by Mazda.

"The team and I are excited to have Scott on board," said team owner Brian Belardi. "I had a chance to see him race during the Skip Barber series this summer, which he ultimately won, and then at the IMS test we did in October.

"Scott impressed me with his car control and natural driving ability. He was able to back up his abilities with another great test at Palm Beach. I couldn't be more happy with the team we have pulled together for the 2012 season. Scott will definitely be a contender for the championship."

Mazda's Director of Motorsports, John Doonan, is happy to know that the Mazda Road to Indy series is continually progressing. "

We're certainly pleased that Scott has made his team choice, Belardi Auto Racing," he said. "We're also pleased that we continue to have a very defined ladder from karting, to Skip Barber to USF2000 and beyond.

"Clearly the level of competition is being raised in each of the series and the number of teams that have their car seats full for the season, it's a really good sign of the strength of the ladder (series) in a tough economy, and the focus that young drivers have on seeing this as an opportunity to grow their career."

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